Blackpool FC Supporters Groups and fans are working with the Blackpool FC Community Trust to finance a new project at the Blackpool section of the Fylde Memorial Arboretum, a unique area that pays tribute to the Blackpool footballers who served during the First & Second World War.

The section is maintained by dedicated volunteers from Blackpool Community Trust, who work tirelessly to uphold the dignity of this living memorial. Despite their efforts, the area has become difficult to maintain due to persistent waterlogging. Plants fail to thrive, and the overall impact of the tribute is diminished.

Blackpool Community Trust and the BFC Supporters Groups have agreed to set an initial target of £700 to finance stage one of the project in the hope that additional funds will be raised for sculptural boots/football, which will be added as poignant reminders of the lives swapped from the roar of the Bloomfield Road to the silence of service.

By honouring our historic players in this way, the club and the community will ensure that these brave men are not forgotten, not just in footballing circles but in the broader fabric of civic memory. They were players, yes, but they were also soldiers, many of whom left the pitch for the trenches and never returned.

This is a great opportunity for all the supporter groups and Blackpool fans as a whole to come together to support this fantastic initiative.

Project Summary:

The proposal centres on a striking and meaningful redesign: a raised bed that symbolically echoes a football pitch. The layout includes a planted area (the pitch), a rear raised section (the stand), and background boards representing the changing room, where the metaphorical ‘kit’ of war replaced that of sport. If budget permits, this will be further enhanced with weather-resistant sculptural concrete boots/football, poignant reminders of the lives swapped from the roar of the crowd to the silence of service.

This thoughtful design addresses both the practical challenges of the site and the emotional weight of the story it holds. It brings history to life in a way that visitors can instantly understand, while allowing the volunteers to better care for the space with long-term sustainability in mind.

The involvement of the Blackpool Community Trust and the football club reflects a deep-rooted commitment not just to sport, but to community and remembrance. This is more than just planting, it’s storytelling. It’s legacy. It’s a proud football club making sure its own heroes are remembered not by fading records, but by living, growing, tangible tribute.

With your support, we can ensure this memorial continues to speak clearly and powerfully to all who pass it, for the players, for the volunteers, and for Blackpool and the club itself.

The Design Concept:

Key Design Features:

• Main box area: Representing a football pitch, this will be the planted raised bed itself.

• Raised rear section (“the stand”): Slightly elevated to frame the bed and provide structure.

• Back boards (“changing rooms”): Painted or treated timber or recycled plastic to represent the player facilities.

• Concrete football boots/football (if budget allows): Installed as permanent sculptural elements, weather-resistant and symbolic.

• The Blackpool Club stone will be reused and moved to the front of the box.

This layout links the visual language of sport and service, ensuring the story remains clear to all ages and visitors.

Volunteer Involvement:

Volunteers from Blackpool Community Trust will continue to maintain the new bed once built, taking pride in their contribution to both horticulture and heritage. Their input has shaped this design, and their ongoing presence ensures the site’s longevity.

Breakdown of Costs :

The cost for flowers, topsoil and all weather paint for the composite decking will be approximately £700.00 but any funds raised above this amount can be used to fund the sculpted boots and ball and to cover ongoing maintenance costs etc.

The installation work will be completed by Blackpool FC Community Trust volunteers, led by Ian McCleary.

Legacy and Impact:

In addition to overcoming the this small but powerful intervention will:

• Honour the memory of Blackpool’s WWI & WW2 footballers

• Visually echo a football pitch and its supporting structures.

• Provide a more striking and educational focal point for visitors.

• Encourage continued volunteer engagement and community pride.